Efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran have hit another roadblock, with a senior Iranian source saying there have been no discussions between Tehran and Washington to extend their
ceasefire.
The source told Reuters on Wednesday that Iran does not recognise any period that could be extended, arguing that the interim agreement never properly came into effect.
Iran Says Ceasefire Had No Start Date
The Iranian source’s comments came after Turkey’s Anadolu news agency, citing Pakistani government sources, reported that Tehran and Washington had agreed to extend a 60-day ceasefire under an interim agreement signed in June.
Iran has rejected that account. “There is no talk of an extension because, from Iran’s perspective, there is no period that began and therefore nothing to extend,” the source told Reuters.
The source also accused the United States of violating the interim agreement shortly after it was reached.
“The United States violated the interim agreement 48 hours after it was reached and withdrew from it a few days later,” the source said.
The development is a setback for mediators seeking to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran in West Asia.
What Was The June Agreement?
The interim deal had called for an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts”.
However, the arrangement quickly unravelled. US President Donald Trump said the agreement was “over” on July 7, while Iran’s foreign ministry declared it “suspended” a week later.
The 60-day period mentioned in the agreement referred to an extendable timeframe during which Iran and the United States were expected to work towards a final deal.
The proposed agreement was aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear programme and lifting US sanctions.
What Were The Conditions?
Several requirements were viewed as necessary before the next phase of negotiations could begin.
These included a ceasefire in Lebanon, free navigation in the Gulf and waivers allowing Iran to sell its oil.
The conditions were part of the broader framework linked to efforts to move towards further negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
However, according to the Iranian source, there has been no progress on resolving the dispute over the interim agreement.
‘Absolutely No Progress’
The source said mediators were discussing whether the United States could return to the interim agreement and establish a timeframe for carrying out its commitments.
“One of the issues that is being discussed via mediators is the U.S. returning to the interim agreement and defining a timeframe for implementing the commitments,” the source said.
“There has been absolutely no progress on this issue.”
The comments came after the report by Anadolu, which had cited Pakistani government sources as saying that Iran and the United States had agreed to extend the 60-day ceasefire.
Tehran’s latest position directly disputes that claim and indicates that the two sides have yet to reach an understanding on extending or reviving the interim arrangement.
For mediators attempting to bring Washington and Tehran back towards negotiations, the disagreement over whether the ceasefire period even began has emerged as a major obstacle.
